Long Dock Park, a brownfield site on the Hudson River, is a nineteen-acre property which has unique grading, grassy, shady and wetlands meadows as well as fine turf areas for picnics, sports, and other uses. The site is tied together with over 9,000 linear feet of walking trails that go through the main park and into the wetland and wooded areas. The master site plan was designed by Reed Hilderbrand with the mission of taking an environmentally dead site and to turn it into a community destination.

The initial design called for unique site grading to create the sea of meadows and fine turf berms. Mowing of these architectural lawns can be challenging at times and it takes new operators a few visits to learn the best ways to mow and string trim without scalping. They have an “emergency” irrigation system which can be connected to a hydrant if needed. This was established after the 2022 drought in the region to protect turf from extreme weather conditions.

Turf panels in full sun areas were established to provide areas for picnics, sunbathing and other outdoor activities. Custom turf mixes were chosen for their drought tolerance and natural resistance to insects and disease. Due to its proximity to the river, and the river valley being flanked by steep cliffs, the site can sometimes act as a natural wind tunnel which can add additional stress to turf and plants.

One of the biggest transformations of the site was to incorporate access to the Hudson River into the site’s design. The site had previously been used as an industrial and/or dumping site for almost two hundred years. Following a clean up of the surrounding riverbed a pebble beach was created to allow for easy access to the river for kayakers and other river enthusiasts alike. Storm surges flood this area periodically and we participate in storm and debris clean up.

The river access area is flanked by manmade peninsulas constructed in the early 1800’s which have been converted into lawn panels and river walks. The two areas also include benches and other seating areas to allow park visitors to enjoy the views of the river valley. We work with state and local representatives as well the Army Corp of Engineers to ensure erosion and tidal flooding damage is repaired quickly and properly.

As the site was transformed from a hazardous industrial site to a place where all can enjoy the natural beauty of the Hudson River, walking trails were incorporated to allow park visitors to explore. The trails were constructed with stabilized stone dust and steel edging to ensure they maintain their boundary and shape over time. There are almost two miles of trails on the site and these trails are mechanically weeded twice annually to maintain their structure and appearance. The trails are also inspected monthly, or after storm events, and any erosion to the trails is repaired.

Meadow construction was a multistage process which included removal of invasive species under New York State's Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) Article 33 which dictated that no herbicides such as glyphosate can be used due to the proximity to wetlands and the river itself. Scenic Hudson, the property owner and site manager, also has a zero-tolerance policy regarding herbicides. Approx three thousands of yards of screened, amended and certified topsoil were brought into the site to complete its transformation from dumping ground to river oasis.

All meadows were established though seeding and careful removal of weeds and invasives. We continue to monitor and maintain the meadows to this day. The meadows are brush cut once they have gone dormant for the season to assist in their vitality and ability to re-seed. We also do an annual invasives removal where technicians explore the meadow and remove invasives such as mug wort or ragweed. The collars are mowed bi-weekly to prevent the meadow from overtaking the trail systems.

The trails are the nervous system of the site and connect the diverse areas and ecosystems. Hidden behind the berms and meadows are small “teaching” areas where local groups and Hudson River volunteers meet and explain the complex environment that surrounds the areas. The paths are edged annually to maintain their integrity and appearance. As the berms, trails and other areas were constructed native trees and shrubs were planted throughout the site as part of the long term sustainable site restoration.

Deep within the trails is a man-made walk bridge that is 100% permeable and permits you to traverse the trails into the wetland’s areas. These areas were fully transformed into native river wetlands and water quality basins, using specified soil mixes, thousands of wetlands plugs and container plants were installed to quickly create natural and self-sustaining ecosystems. We monitor the wetlands and water quality basins to this day to ensure that invasive species do not take hold and we participate in wetlands inspections and supplemental plantings.

Large 12”x12” milled white oak timbers were installed as seating areas under preserved shade trees as a “rest stop” for trail goers or a place to sit and enjoy the views. The turf in this area is un-irrigated and on an organic lawn program in conjunction with New York State Article 33. All turf on the site is frequently aerated and overseeded to promote growth and turf density to crowd out weeds. Turf is mowed weekly as part of the site’s twelve-month maintenance program.

The site design includes and minimalist parking approach which uses concrete pads as parking spots. Rainwater is absorbed by permeable surfaces and any runoff flows into bioswales which capture and absorb the remaining water. These bioswales assist in filtering rainwater before it enters the river and wetlands. Shade trees were planted with the intention to shade vehicles in future years.

As part of the remediation of the site hundreds of native trees were planted such as ash, chestnut, cotton wood and locust, throughout the meadows and trails. The grassy meadows comprise of andropogon, panicum, elymus and other sustainable varieties. Invasive inspections continue to this day to seek out and remove clusters of known competitive species. Meadows are not cut back until mid-late spring to allow pollinators and local wildlife time to emerge and flourish before mechanical brush cutting.

A challenging factor of the site was the grading, as mentioned in previous photos and descriptions, the sites thousands of yards of engineered soil are fine graded to exact architectural specifications using transits, laser levels and string lines. As part of erosion control measures any berms that are damaged due to extreme weather are quickly repaired and reseeded.

The twelve-month landscape/wetland/meadow maintenance plan is a continuation of the initial remediation plan put forth by Reed Hildebrand Architects. As stewards of the site, we have a “partnership” with the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation. We conduct and provide soil analysis and testing, reports and periodically work with the Army Corp of Engineers for erosion of shoring issues. We also work with Scenic Hudson, the site’s owner, as their partner on the ground providing updates on the maintenance program and sites needs.

In addition to Long Dock Park, Scenic Hudson has created dozen of other pocket parks, hiking trails and gathering areas throughout the Hudson River Valley to revitalize access to the areas amazing natural beauty. Long Dock Park connects to the main trail system that enables you to walk, hike or ride up and down the river for miles and miles.

The site is also used to host an annual fundraising event hosted by the property owner Scenic Hudson. The event raises funds to sustain projects such as Long Dock Park and engage in new remediation and erosion control projects. They also work to create awareness of the unique and irreplaceable ecosystems within the Hudson River and how they connect to the regions amazing past.